Apparatus for raising submerged vessels.



W. A, BLAKESLEY.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUBMERGED VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12. 1915.

1 QUT/fifil. Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

mr mmms PETERS co.. PNOm-IJI'NO" WASNING mrv, n. cy

W. A. BLAKESLEY.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUBMERGED VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 12 l9l5.

Patented Dec. 5, 19I6.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Witueooeo .W. A. BLAKESLEY.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUBMERGED VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV, I2, 1915. I

Patented Dec. 0,1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

n4: mmms PETERS cv.,FMOrO-LHNOuwA5H1NcTON. 0 c.

WILLIAM A. BLAKESLEY, OF BAKER, OREGON.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUBMERGED VESSELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 19115.

Application filed November 12, 1915. Serial No. 61,184.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. BLAKES- LEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baker, in the county of Baker and State of Oregon, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Submerged Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for raising sunken vessels.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide apparatus of the class described which may be permanently secured to the vessel and which, when the vessel has sunk, will indicate the location of such vessel and form a guide for the lifting mechanism so that the latter may be carried directly to the ship when let down into the water and secured to the ship to facilitate the raising thereof.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth and falling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through a ship equipped with apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, the apparatus being shown in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the apparatus installed in the ship. Fig. 4: is a horizontal sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a similar View on the line 55 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the device attached to the lifting cable. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view through such device. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the apparatus in use.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1 designates the deck of a ship, while 2 indicates a frusto-conical casing seated upon the deck 1 and having the lower edge formed with an annular flange 3 provided with bolt holes through which and the adjacent portion of the deck are passed securing bolts 4 whereby the casting may be secured to the deck of the ship. Disposed within the casing 2 and suitably secured therein is an inverted conical shaped tube 5 having the upper relatively large end projecting outwardly through the relatively small end of the casing 2 and formed in the deck 1 in line with the center of the tube 5 is an opening 6. Fastened to the bottom of the deck 1 below the casing 2 and tube 5 and depending from the deck are hangers 7 and journaled in the lower ends of the hangers 7 is a shaft 8 carrying a drum 9 and secured to and wrapped about the drum 9 is a cable 10. Seated upon the upper end of the tube 5 is a float or buoy 11 of any suitable construction. The outer end of the cable 10 is carried through the opening 6 and secured to the float or buoy 11, as at 12. Suitably secured to the inner wall of the tube 5 adjacent to the upper end thereof and spaced apart around the tube equal distances are pairs of pivot ears 13 and pivoted between the pairs of cars 13 respectively are holding dogs 14 having the lower ends thereof projecting downwardly into the tube and the other extremities projecting upwardly toward the upper edge of the tube.

15 designates a lifting device comprising, in the present instance, an inverted frustoconical shell 16 of such dimensions as to fit into the lower end of the tube 5. Arranged centrally of the shell 16 and extending longitudinally thereof is a guide tube 17 suitably secured within the shell and fastened to the upper end of the guide tube 17 is a yoke 18.

In practice, when the vessel equipped with my apparatus sinks, the float or buoy 11 is supported on the surface of the water and as the vessel descends the cable 10 is unwound from the drum 9. The upper surface of the buoy or float 11 is preferably equipped with a strong reflecting plate 19 so that the buoy may be observed from a distance, incident to the light reflected by the plate 19 in the tossing of the buoy by the waves.

The relief ship carries the lifting device 15 and the floating buoy enables the crew of the relief ship to locate a sunken vessel. After the sunken vessel has been located, the buoy is lifted up on the relief ship and re moved from the upper end of the cable, and the cable passed through the guide tube 17 in the shell 16 of the lifting device 15. The lifting cable is then secured to the yoke 18 and the lifting device permitted to slide down the cable 10 and is guided by the cable 10 into the tube 5 on the sunken vessel and as the lifting device drops into the tube 5, such device passes the dogs 14 and is engaged by the lower ends thereof and held in the tube 5 so that when a pull is exerted "2 are preferably formedwithalining openings 2O through which-sediment and the like may be discharged when the lifting de- 7 yice is guided into the lower'end of the tube 5. This lifting ideyice is composed of'meta'l so that the same rnay readily sub vmerge and be weighted, ifnecessary. VVhile I have herein shoyiurand described raised. p I V It will, of course, be understood that each yessel'gmay" be" equipped with any number fC2LSlIigS 2 and tubes '5 and'their associated parts so that'the corresponding number of lifting'devices 15 may be into and ''The lower ends ofthejube 5' and easing one preferred formfof my inventionby way of illustration, I wish to "be" understood that I do'not limit or confine myself to the precise details of construction herein described -and delineated, as' modification and variatlo'n maybe made within the scopeof the clalmsland without departing from the Y spirit oftheinvention. f

,1, Inapparatus for raismg sunken vessels, a tube secured tothedeck of' the vessel, dogs pivoted to' the' innerfsurface of said tube adjacent to the upper end thereof Copies 'oiithis patent may be obtained for and spaced apart, a lifting device adapted to enter said tube and pass the dogs therein whereby'the dogs will hold the device Within the tube, a lifting cable connected to said device, a frusto-conical casing surrounding said tube and secured thereto, and connecg V 7 .tions between the lower end of said casing secured within the respective tubes e 'to" 'facilitate the lifting of the essel.

andthe deck of the vessel, said tube and casin bein formed with alinin oaenin 's b D O through which sediment may be expelled under the action of said lifting device when the latter enters the tube.

. 2.1napparatus for raising sunken vessels, a tube secured to the deck of the vessel,

holding means in said tube, a lifting device 7 adapted to enter sa d tube and engage said holding means, a lifting cable connected to said device, a casing surrounding said tube and secured thereto, and connections between the lower end of said casing and the deck of the vessel, said tube and easing being'formed with alining openings through which sediment, etc., may be expelled under the action of said lifting device when the latter enters the tube.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' XVILLIAM A. BLAKESLEY. Witnesses:

' E. P. CRANSTON,

A. J. BLAKESLEY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. "Washington, I). C. 

